Durant powers Thunder over Portland

DIVISION LEAD:The win gave the Thunder the lead in the Northwest Division and put them half a game away from the top of the Western Conference table

AP, OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma

Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant, left, drives the ball by Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard during their game at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on Tuesday.

Photo: Mark D. Smith / USA TODAY

Oklahoma City claimed sole ownership of the NBA’s Northwest Division with a 105-97 win over rival Portland on Tuesday, as Kevin Durant continued his extraordinary scoring run with a 46-point personal haul.

Durant scored 11 of his 46 points in the final 3 minutes 23 seconds to steer the Thunder to a victory that not only gave them top spot in the division, but moved them within half a game of San Antonio for the Western Conference lead.

He has scored at least 30 points for eight consecutive games, the longest such streak of his career. He made 17 of 25 field goals, including 6 of 7 three-pointers.

Reggie Jackson added 15 points for Oklahoma City, who had lost both their previous games against Portland this season.

LaMarcus Aldridge had 29 points and 16 rebounds for the Trail Blazers.

Miami’s LeBron James scored 11 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter to guide the Heat to a 93-86 win over Boston.

Chris Bosh added 16 for Miami, who scored the last nine points of the game to pull off an unconvincing win.